FEL Skid Steer quick connect question

[Rickklem]

I have a L4701 with the quick disconnect Skid Steer type FEL. This weekend when I was using the grapple to clear some brush , a stick came up from the bottom and pushed my release lever upward causing one side to unmount and the grapple was dangling from only one side. This happened three times over the weekend. What can I do to secure them feom being pushed open?

Also, my grapple is made by J-bar and the pivot pin at the end of the hydro cylinder that connects to the grapple closure keeps loosening the pivot pin. Something pushes the Clevis retaining clip out, causing the pivot pin to fall out. I think my fix for that will be to install a new retaining clip 5hen bend both ends around . It will create more work to remove it but I don't see what I would need to do it that often.

And finally, my hydro hoses for the grapple dangle a lot, is it suggested to tie wrap them to the FEL. Or any suggestions?

Thanks
Rick

 

[NCL4701]

I’m not particularly familiar with the J-bar grapple but from what I saw when I looked them up on the internet they appear to be similar in configuration to the Tar River grapple I have (pictured). I’ve never had the quick attach lever pop off. I have had it come close a couple of times but saw it before it actually came off. I’ve used the grapple for cleaning up newly felled tree limbs, tearing apart bush piles for chipping, and clearing older trails that were past bushog ability. I have had to be quite careful to not have sticks coming through the back of the grapple. Behind the grapple are hoses and radiator and just not an area to have sticks in. If you do have some poking through, you really have to keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t cause problems.

I’ve seen a couple of grapples with expanded metal welded on the back wall to maintain visibility and keep all but the too tiny to cause damage sticks from making it through to the quick attach, radiator, etc. You might have a bunch of small stuff get stuck in the expanded metal, I don’t know for sure.

I do know if you have excess hydraulic hose flopping about you need to get that tidied up with some wire ties before you have a hose get hung up on something.